Scotland’s north in one nonstop loop. This 8-day tour links Edinburgh with Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Skye, Loch Ness, and then the ferry to Orkney for Skara Brae, Maeshowe, and the Italian Chapel—all with round-trip transport so you spend more time looking out the window than planning your next turn. I like how the route mixes headline spots with lesser-known stops that fit the day’s pace, not just a checklist.

One big plus for me is the included B&B accommodation and 7 breakfasts, which cuts the usual scramble after long driving days. The one drawback to flag: some of the most famous stops have add-on admissions you’ll need to budget for, like Eilean Donan Castle and optional Loch Ness / Urquhart Castle time.

Key moments worth your attention

• Transportation is handled end to end, including the ferry to Orkney and back
• 7 nights of B&B lodging + breakfast included, which makes mornings easier
• Orkney’s top prehistoric sites are included: Maes Howe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel
• Local guide time matters, especially for stories and viewpoints you’d likely miss DIY
• A few major attractions are not included, so you’ll want money set aside for entrances/cruises
• Small group size (max 35) keeps the vibe friendly and manageable on narrow roads

Price and value: what you get for about $2,164

At about $2,164.44 per person for an 8-day trip, you’re not just paying for sights—you’re paying for the ability to do a big north-and-islands route without driving yourself. The value works best if you like structure and hate logistics: round-trip transport is included, and your Orkney ferry is built in.

The other value piece is the lodging model. You get 7 nights in B&B-style accommodation plus breakfast (7), which means you’re not hunting for breakfast options after late arrivals or spending time coordinating “where to stay tonight.” That adds up, especially in places where dinner options can be limited by season.

The tradeoff is that not every entrance is covered. Several standout places on the route list admissions as not included, so your final spend will depend on how many optional tickets you choose (more on that below). If you’re the type who likes to walk in, pay once, and see everything, plan a separate budget for entrances.

How the tour runs day to day: bus rhythm, ferries, and real timing

This is built around a guided bus route out of Edinburgh, starting at Loch Ness Discovery Centre, 192 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RW at 8:30am. The tour ends back in Edinburgh at 22 St Andrew Sq, Edinburgh EH2 1AY. You’ll be on the move most days, but the stops are timed to keep you from feeling trapped in traffic.

The ferry moment is important. You board the ferry to Orkney (included) for about 1 hour 30 minutes, and later you return to the mainland the same way. That keeps your Orkney days feeling like a true mini-trip inside the overall route, instead of a rushed day trip.

One practical note that will shape your comfort: there’s a luggage restriction of 15kg max per person with size limits of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm plus a small carry on. If you pack heavy, you’ll feel it over repeated transfers and tight vehicle storage.

Day 1: Loch Lomond at a slow stroll, then Kilmartin Glen’s carvings

Day 1 starts with Loch Lomond, where the plan is simply time to stroll along the bonnie banks for about 30 minutes. This isn’t a long hike day—it’s a palate cleanser. You get fresh air, quick scenery, and a chance to reset before the driving really ramps up.

Then you head to Kilmartin Glen for about 30 minutes. This is where the tone shifts from postcard views to deep-time Scotland: you’ll see Bronze Age carvings and feel how much of this area is shaped by prehistoric ritual and landscape patterns. Even with a short stop, it sets you up to appreciate why Orkney later feels so special for its ancient sites.

Value tip: on days like this, you get the most out of it if you keep one small priority in mind—either photos or reading what the guide points out. Trying to do everything at once usually turns a short stop into a blur.

Day 2: Glencoe stories, Fort William lunch, and the Glenfinnan Viaduct view

Glencoe is one of those places that carries weight even when you’re just watching from the roadside. You’ll get about 20 minutes at the Glencoe National Nature Reserve, with the guide sharing the stories tied to the infamous massacre. With only a short time here, you’ll want to listen closely early, because the emotional context is part of what makes the scenery land.

Lunch is built around Fort William VisitScotland iCentre for about 1 hour. It’s a helpful break point: you can grab food, stretch, and regroup before heading west again.

Next comes the Glenfinnan Viaduct stop at about 20 minutes. The viaduct is famous from the Harry Potter films, and you’ll also have a look at the Glenfinnan Monument plus surrounding scenery. Even if you’re not chasing film history, the setting makes the view work.

Reality check: 20 minutes sounds short, but the bus schedule usually matters more on these routes. If you want a long linger for photos, plan to move fast once you reach the viewpoint.

Day 3: Skye’s big views—Black Cuillin, Old Man of Storr, and Portree Harbour lunch

Day 3 is your first full day of standout Skye scenery.

First up is Black Cuillin for about 20 minutes. You’re not doing a full trek here, but you’ll get the famous rugged mountain look that makes Skye feel like a different planet.

Then you go to The Old Man of Storr for about 30 minutes. This is one of the best “quick payoff” stops on the route. You don’t need technical hiking experience to appreciate it—just good shoes for the ground and a willingness to take in the shape of the rock.

Finally, lunch happens at Portree Harbour for about 1 hour. Portree is where you’ll likely feel the classic tourist energy, but your timing gives you a solid window to eat and reset before continuing.

Best strategy: keep your lunch simple so you’re not rushed when the group boards again. The scenery on this day is why you bought the tour.

Day 4: Eilean Donan Castle and Loch Ness—famous, with optional add-ons

Eilean Donan is a Scotland poster in real life. You’ll stop at Eilean Donan Castle for about 1 hour, and the admission is not included. If you want to go inside, you’ll need to arrange entrance and pay on the day.

Then the route includes Loch Ness for about 1 hour with the chance to take a cruise for monster hunting, but again, admission is not included. Your driver can also help arrange Urquhart Castle time—also not included—either alone or paired with a cruise.

How I’d think about this day: if you want the full Loch Ness experience, budget for both cruise and castle time. If you’re more scenery-focused, you can treat Loch Ness as a photo-and-walk moment and save your entrance money.

Practical heads-up: Loch Ness days can feel like decision days. If you’re unsure about the value of paid attractions versus more time outside, ask your guide what you’ll gain from each option.

Day 5: Ferry to Orkney plus the Italian Chapel stop

The day shifts gears with Pentland Ferries to Orkney, including about 1 hour 30 minutes on the crossing. This is the moment where the trip stops feeling like a Highlands drive and turns into an island itinerary.

Once you reach Orkney, you’ll visit the Italian Chapel for about 30 minutes. Admission isn’t included on the stop list, but the overall tour package includes Orkney attractions including the Italian Chapel—so you should be covered for that specific site as part of the included Orkney offerings. This chapel is created by Italian prisoners during WWII, and the result is both unexpected and moving in person.

What makes this stop work on a tour like this is the emotional contrast. After dramatic mountains and castles, you get a quieter place where the details matter more than the distance you travel.

Day 6: Skara Brae and Maeshowe—prehistoric Britain in focused time

Day 6 is heavy on ancient Orkney, and it’s the kind of day that makes your brain slow down in a good way.

First is Skara Brae, a neolithic village uncovered in a storm dating back to 3180BC. The stop is about 1 hour 30 minutes, and admission is listed as not included on the stop description—yet the package includes Skara Brae as one of the Orkney attractions included. Either way, it’s a major site, and you’ll want to take your time inside.

Then you head to Maeshowe Visitor Centre for about 1 hour. This is described as the best preserved example of a Neolithic chambered cairn in Europe, and it’s a truly different kind of structure than Skara Brae. This is about what people built underground and how they oriented their world.

Tip: if you like archaeology, this is your money day. If you’re less into ancient sites, you’ll still likely enjoy how clearly the sites teach you to read the island—what it was like, what mattered, and how people lived.

Day 7: Back to the mainland and John O’Groats, the UK’s northern edge

After Orkney, you take the ferry back to the mainland on the same 1 hour 30 minutes crossing time.

Then the route includes a stop in John O’ Groats for about 20 minutes—the most northerly point on the UK mainland. This isn’t a long stop by design. It’s a quick stamp in your passport and a chance to soak up the sense of having gone far enough north that the map stops feeling imaginary.

Keep your expectations realistic: it’s a short photo stop. The value is the feeling of completion after your Orkney days.

Day 8: Culloden Battlefield, then Pitlochry strolling back near Edinburgh

Your final day starts at Culloden Battlefield for about 1 hour. Admission is not included, but the time here is built for context around the last battle fought on British soil. Even for people who are only passingly curious about Scottish history, the scale of place helps you understand why this matters.

Then you make a stop in Pitlochry VisitScotland iCentre for about 45 minutes to stroll a charming town and grab last-minute food or souvenirs. It’s a nice wind-down before returning to Edinburgh.

If you want to end on a lighter note, Pitlochry is the right pairing with Culloden. You get emotion in the morning, then ordinary comfort and a chance to breathe.

B&B stays: where comfort shines and where the details can bite

Overall, the B&B style works well because you’re not constantly changing hotels, and you get breakfasts handled. In the better stays, the rooms and breakfasts can feel like part of the charm of the trip.

But there’s a real range in quality. One person’s experience described two B&Bs as very nice and breakfasts as memorable, including an excellent breakfast at Rainbow View in the town of Kyleakin on Skye. Another experience flagged a stay where dinner was a 30 minute walk into town, plus other nights where room sizes were very tight—one description had a very small bathroom sink—and a festival in a town made dinner harder to find.

What that means for you: assume B&Bs can mean older buildings and small rooms, especially in remote or coastal towns. If you’re picky about room size, you might want to choose your room option carefully. The tour also notes that if you’re traveling alone, you should select the single room option, since otherwise the booking may not be accepted.

Guides and the moments you’ll remember after the photos

The guide quality is where this kind of tour can rise above a standard bus circuit.

One named guide, Jim Donovan, stood out for mixing big sights with off-the-beaten-track stops and for finding fun ways to experience places beyond just standing still. For example, a stop included a spiral maze experience on Skye where the group walked it backward, plus picnic planning from a supermarket before a short walk to a waterfall. There was also a custom cairn moment where people picked up stones with intention and added them to cairns at a roadside stop.

Other guides named in experiences included Brodie and Kenny. They were described as highly knowledgeable and good at reading the group, with safe driving even on challenging roads. One guide also organized an evening in a pub with traditional Scottish music and dance. That’s the kind of local texture that usually disappears when you travel solo.

One caution from a real itinerary experience: there was disappointment around a Jacobite steam train element for at least one group, mainly because it felt less special than expected and the conditions were hot with limited air circulation. If you’re sensitive to comfort, treat any train-related add-on as optional value—not the core of the day.

Tickets, entrances, and budgeting for the not-included items

Some stops show “admission ticket free,” and others explicitly say “not included.” The included list also covers several Orkney attractions and breakfast.

Here’s the practical way to budget:

• Included in the package: ferry to Orkney, and Orkney attractions including Maes Howe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel, plus breakfast (7)
• Not included (examples from the route): Eilean Donan Castle entry, Loch Ness cruise admission, and Urquhart Castle admission
• Not included generally: drinks

For Loch Ness, your driver can arrange Urquhart Castle entrance and potentially pair it with a cruise. That can be convenient, but it’s still on you to pay for the entrances/cruise. If you want to avoid spending surprises, plan to set aside money early and decide on the day what feels worth it.

Who should book this Skye and Orkney route from Edinburgh?

This tour fits best if you want a guided, efficient way to cover a lot of Scotland without rental car fatigue. It’s also a good choice if you enjoy history stories tied to place, because the itinerary is packed with sites where context changes how you read what you see.

It also makes sense if you like a B&B pace with daily structure. You’ll be able to participate if you’re generally healthy and comfortable with day-long touring. The tour notes most people can participate, with children needing an adult and children under 3 not accepted.

If you’re traveling with a service animal, service animals are allowed. And the group size is kept under control at max 35, which usually helps the experience feel human instead of assembly-line.

Should you book this 8-day Highlands and Orkney tour?

I’d book it if:

• you want Skye + Orkney + Highlands in one shot, with transport and key Orkney sites taken care of
• you like having a guide handle the stories, timing, and the “where should we stop next?” pressure
• you’re okay budgeting extra for a few major optional admissions like Eilean Donan and Loch Ness / Urquhart

I’d think twice if:

• you’re very sensitive to lodging variation and tight room sizes, since B&B standards can differ town to town
• you dislike paying add-ons and would rather see only what’s guaranteed included
• you hate short stop times at big icons. Some stops are only 20 to 30 minutes by design, even when the place is famous

If you want a practical, guided route that gets you to the right parts of Scotland without a rental car, this is a strong way to do it.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and what time?

The tour starts at Loch Ness Discovery Centre, 192 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RW, and the start time is 8:30am.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at 22 St Andrew Sq, Edinburgh EH2 1AY.

How long is the tour?

It’s an 8-day tour, with the duration listed as approximately 8 days.

Is the ferry to Orkney included?

Yes. The ferry to Orkney is included, and there is also a included ferry return back to the mainland.

Which Orkney attractions are included?

The included Orkney attractions are Maes Howe, Skara Brae, and the Italian Chapel.

Are breakfasts included?

Yes. Breakfast is included for 7 mornings.

Are tickets for Eilean Donan Castle and Loch Ness included?

No. Admissions for Eilean Donan Castle and Loch Ness options (like a cruise) are listed as not included.

What is the luggage limit?

Luggage is limited to a maximum of 15kg per person, with maximum size 55cm x 40cm x 20cm plus a small carry on.

Is there a cancellation policy, and is it refundable?

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.

How many people are on the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 35 travelers.